Chapter 76

Chapter 76. If You’re Curious, Bring 5 Million Gold (3)

“I won’t kill you. But I’ll cut off one of your limbs.”

Cork’s casual tone, as if he were asking for a stored item, left his mercenary subordinates speechless.

“Boss, are you on something? You’re telling us to cut off the Solver’s limbs, not some random guy’s.”

“Why would we risk our lives to cripple Keter? Even if we do nothing, your victory is certain.”

The mercenaries’ points were valid.

But Cork wasn’t looking for logic—he wanted blind obedience.

“Idiots. Have you ever seen Keter act without a reason? He’s definitely planning something. And it’s clearly meant to screw me over. If he’s scheming, why should I sit still?”

“You promised not to act yourself.”

“Why would you take that lunatic at his word? Why do you always assume he’ll keep his promises? He might’ve been telling the truth just for today!”

“Hmm…”

The mercenaries swallowed their words.

It sounded plausible, but it was still a stretch. Yet, openly calling it out would’ve made them seem disloyal.

Cork stoked the flames of his authority.

“Listen closely. Do you know what’ll happen if he becomes the boss? Both you and I are as good as dead. Even if Keter spares you, I won’t.”

The mercenaries flinched.

Their relationship with Cork wasn’t built on loyalty or camaraderie—it was purely transactional, based on power and authority.

But they couldn’t back out now. They knew too many of Cork’s secrets, and they’d invested too much time and money.

“Still, fighting Keter is…”

They hesitated. Cork was ruthless to traitors, but so was Keter.

Cork slammed his chest in frustration.

“You’re not knights, so why think of a frontal assault? Wait for him to show a weakness. He’s lying in the square right now, completely defenseless. Surround him. Even if he’s a monster, he only has two arms. If we attack simultaneously, he can’t block everything. How hard is that?”

“If ambushes worked on Keter, he wouldn’t still be alive.”

“Are we the same as those failures? You’re not desperate enough. You’re holding onto hope that you might leave Ruquer. Or maybe you just want to keep living large in this hellhole. How long will you keep tiptoeing around?”

“……”

No one stepped forward, even under Cork’s harsh words.

And for good reason—their opponent was Keter.

Countless had tried to take him down, and every mercenary here knew how they’d ended up.

No matter how much Cork threatened or yelled, they were still human. Fear could be overcome, but never erased.

Keter was a demon who tapped into humanity’s primal fears.

Cork bit his lower lip. The resistance to attacking Keter was stronger than he’d anticipated.

‘No choice.’

No matter how much he pressured them, the mercenaries wouldn’t budge. Cork pulled out his final card.

“I made a bet with Keter during this trial. We wagered our entire fortunes. Of course, I plan to share it all with you. Why? Because I care about you. You’re my family. Isn’t friendship thicker than blood? I never intended to send you after Keter recklessly.”

Cork pulled out the magical tools from his waist and offered them.

“I’m not just lending these to the assault team—I’m transferring ownership. And to whoever cripples Keter, I’ll give an additional magical tool.”

The mercenaries finally showed interest at this unprecedented offer. One stepped forward.

“If you give me the Sword Breaker, I’ll bring back Keter’s arm.”

The Sword Breaker—a level 2 magical tool specialized in destroying weapons.

Cork’s inner conflict was immense, but he couldn’t hesitate now. He’d look like a hypocrite.

“I’ll trust you with it.”

Cork handed over the Sword Breaker, its blade sharp as a shark’s tooth.

The mercenary swallowed hard and accepted it with both hands.

“You’re really giving this to me?”

“I’ll join too. If you give me the Snake Chain Sword.”

“Take it.”

The Snake Chain Sword, a level 1 magical tool that extended like a whip when infused with aura, found a new owner.

Five more mercenaries stepped forward, each receiving a magical tool.

Having lost seven magical tools, Cork felt a deep sting but didn’t show it.

“I’ll remember and reward your courage and determination.”

Thus, the seven mercenaries, now armed with magical tools, set off to find Keter.

* * *

Four mercenaries exchanged glances.

Keter lay in the center of the square, his right arm propping up his head, his left arm hanging loosely.

He looked like an easy target, but those who’d thought so before had all ended up crippled.

They carefully planned their strategy.

“Keter’s main weapons are two daggers. Even if he uses both hands, he can only block two attacks at once.”

“I’ll take the upper left with the Sword Breaker. Even if he blocks, I’ll destroy his dagger and create an opening.”

“My Chain Sword can pierce his defenses. I’ll take the upper right. The other two, go for his waist and legs.”

“If it’s the waist, my Frost Axe will split him in two.”

“If he tries to stand, I’ll cut his ankles with this scythe.”

The mercenaries grinned confidently.

The plan was flawless. No gaps. They were sure they could kill Keter this time.

“Even without the magical tools, this plan would’ve worked. Right?”

“Agreed. If we weren’t mercenaries, we could’ve aimed for general positions.”

“Who knows? The treasures from the labyrinth might make it possible.”

“Heh, heh, heh.”

Armed with their tools and a perfect plan, they approached Keter.

But as they got closer, their legs trembled. The closer they got to Keter, the closer death felt.

“Ugh…”

“Keter is still Keter, huh.”

“Stay focused. Even Keter can’t detect our ambush in this crowd.”

“True. If we stick to the plan, we’ll win.”

“Let’s get into position.”

The mercenaries spread out, each taking a spot to attack Keter simultaneously.

But they hesitated, unsure when to strike. Being spread out made it impossible to coordinate.

Eventually, the Sword Breaker mercenary made the first move.

Seeing him attack, the other three followed suit.

But it wasn’t a simultaneous assault—it was staggered.

Luckily for them, it didn’t matter. Even a perfectly coordinated attack would’ve been meaningless against Keter.

* * *

Keter, under attack, did something no one expected.

He rolled, striking the Sword Breaker mercenary’s ankle and knocking him down.

Rolling on the ground?! The Sword Breaker mercenary couldn’t believe his eyes.

Rolling to dodge an attack was considered unmanly and the ultimate dishonor in their world.

Yet Keter had done it!

“Aren’t you ashamed…”

These became the last words of one mercenary.

Keter stabbed his spine with a dagger, causing temporary full-body paralysis and permanent lower-body paralysis.

The Chain Sword mercenary charged at Keter, who was halfway up.

Keter picked up the Sword Breaker and swung it at the Chain Sword.

CRASH!

The two magical tools clashed loudly. The shattered Chain Sword’s fragments scattered everywhere.

Amidst the chaos, the Frost Axe mercenary’s axe came down on Keter’s head.

THUD!

The axe buried deep into the paralyzed mercenary’s shoulder. Keter used him as a shield.

Standing up, Keter now held a dagger.

He thrust at the Frost Axe mercenary’s throat but fell short.

Then, Keter released the dagger. It flew straight into the mercenary’s throat.

The Chain Sword and Scythe mercenaries rushed Keter from both sides.

“That’s not how you use it.”

Keter grabbed the Chain Sword mid-swing. It looked like he caught the blade barehanded, but he’d actually grabbed the non-bladed part.

With a flick of his wrist, the Chain Sword extended and wrapped around the Scythe mercenary’s left leg.

The Scythe mercenary’s face turned pale as he realized his fate.

“No, no!”

“Yes!”

Keter slapped the flat side of the Chain Sword.

The impact tightened the chain, cleanly severing the Scythe mercenary’s leg.

“AAAAH!”

“Scream all you want. You won’t get to later.”

The Chain Sword mercenary dropped his weapon and ran.

Keter casually threw a dagger at him. It flew straight through the crowd.

“Ah.”

A single scream reached Keter’s ears.

Keter whistled and walked toward the crowd, which parted to reveal the mercenary, a dagger in the back of his head.

“Please, please…”

Keter grabbed the crawling mercenary’s hair and whispered in his ear.

“Do you believe in any gods?”

“Stop! I’ll talk! Cork ordered this! I’ll tell you all his secrets!”

“Don’t need it.”

Keter dragged him by the hair to the center of the square. The legless mercenary, barely conscious, couldn’t run far due to blood loss.

A crowd had gathered to watch.

Keter’s punishment was carried out emotionlessly, like a craftsman assembling a doll or a hunter butchering meat.

It wasn’t gruesome or eerie. But what remained were four “somethings.”

Their teeth were pulled, and the tendons in their wrists and ankles were severed. No blood flowed—Keter had stopped it. Death by blood loss would’ve been a “reward.”

In Ruquer, those punished by Keter were called “Human Centipedes.”

A nickname earned from their wriggling on the ground.

“Kekeke.”

“The new centipedes will be popular.”

The onlookers laughed cruelly.

Keter didn’t care what happened to the “centipedes” he created. He’d kill them without a second thought.

But would anyone in Ruquer show them mercy?

Everyone mocked the centipedes, threw stones, and played with them. And they vowed never to become Keter’s enemy. If they did, they’d prepare a way to kill themselves…

Though, even suicide wouldn’t save them from Keter—a fact they didn’t know.

Keter left the square without a second thought and disposed of the mercenaries’ magical tools.

“Severe damage, poor quality. 3,800 gold. We’ve got better stuff in stock. Interested?”

The Magic Tool Shop owner subtly probed Keter.

“Don’t need it… Got anything related to bows?”

“Bows? No bows… but I’ve got arrows.”

“Show me.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. I was planning to show you daggers.”

The owner led Keter underground and presented two arrows.

“Both are natural, excavated from ruins. This one’s a Split Arrow. The tip splits into eight upon firing. It also has an auto-return feature. A level 2 magical tool.”

“And the other?”

“Heh, you’ve got a good eye. Doesn’t it look rare?”

The owner handed Keter an arrow that looked like it was made of glass.

“Try infusing it with aura.”

“Done.”

“I’ll take it back.”

The owner stepped away, holding the glass arrow.

Keter’s eyes sparkled.

“The aura doesn’t fade?”

“Heh, exactly. It solves the fundamental issue of archery—poor compatibility with aura. But honestly, it’s more decorative. No auto-return feature. If you lose it after firing, what’s the point?”

The owner placed the arrows back and leaned against the wall.

“Keter, I know you’re curious, but give up on archery. Bows are the least popular and hardest to sell in the magical tool market. Bow-related tools are the cheapest of the cheap. I’ll give you both arrows for 1,000 gold.”

Considering the average price of a level 2 tool was 3,000 gold, this was a steal.

Keter pulled out a bill and said, “Deliver it to my office.”

“Just these? I was planning to show you a dagger! A level 3 magical tool! Much better than the one you bought last time!”

“Ah, these? I’ve been using them well.”

Keter showed the two daggers on his waist.

They looked identical, but one was heavy, the other light. Durable and with an auto-return feature, they’d been useful. But Keter no longer relied on them.

‘I’m an archer now.’

Keter considered selling them but decided against it.

‘No. If I sell them, I should give them to Maknun.’

Thinking of Maknun, Keter’s mind shifted.

In his past life, Maknun had no combat skills, making it hard to protect him.

But this life could be different. If he could make Maknun capable of defending himself, they might make it to the end together.

“I’ll take the dagger too.”

“See? Swordsmanship is the best! Haha! Let’s go. Level 3 tools are hard to come by.”

“No need for a demo. How much?”

“You won’t see it in action? You might not accept the price.”

“Don’t worry. If I don’t like it, I’ll return it.”

“Fair enough. 120,000. In gold, of course.”

“Damn. You’re really confident?”

The average price for a level 3 tool was 50,000 gold.

But the owner had nearly tripled it.

“You’re trying to rip me off so you can retire from Ruquer, huh?”

“Who else would I rip off if not Ruquer’s Solver? Just see the dagger in action.”

“Whatever. I’m not using it anyway.”

“What? If you’re not using it, who will?”

“None of your business. Send it to the office. Deduct the arrow cost.”

“The money?”

“Maknun will pay at the office.”

Maknun, at seventeen, was a year younger than Keter. It was late to start martial arts at that age.

But with magical tools and elixirs, maybe it could work.

“It’ll cost a fortune.”

But Keter didn’t care. Money was meant to be spent, not hoarded.

Thinking of Maknun following his orders, Keter muttered, “Forget past lives, Maknun. You’re sticking with me till the end.”

Meanwhile.

Daat, busy searching for portable artifacts as per Keter’s orders, had no idea. His competence in his past life had destined him for a spectacular life this time…

But he had no reason to feel wronged. He had a comrade—Luke Blendor.

Even if Keter had marked him first, Luke was currently experiencing the greatest trials of his life.